Here’s a breakdown of 10 real and effective ways to collaborate with influencers, based on what we’ve seen work across industries and campaigns. Let’s go beyond the basics.

1. Sponsored posts 

This is the go-to format: an influencer publishes a post, reel, story, or video promoting your product or service. It’s great for quick reach and visibility, but only when the profile truly fits your brand. If the content feels forced, it won’t connect. And if it doesn’t connect, it won’t convert.

A great example of this is Nuna’s collaboration with influencer Maria Alcalde, where she’s captured walking through the city with a Nuna stroller. The look, the setting, and the tone are perfectly aligned with the brand’s values: urban, elegant, and effortlessly functional. The content feels authentic because it is.

2. Gifting

You send your product for free without requiring payment or guaranteed coverage. Ideal for micro-influencers or people already familiar with your brand. There’s no obligation for them to post, but if the experience is thoughtful (great packaging, handwritten notes, or a creative concept), you increase your chances big time.

If the creator decides to post, they must disclose that the item was gifted,even if there was no monetary exchange. 

A clear example of this is Roberta Rodolico’s collaboration with DeMellier London. In her caption, she uses the hashtag #gifted, which is a mandatory label in many markets to make it clear to the audience that the post involves a commercial relationship.

3. Giveaways and contests

Perfect for boosting engagement and growing followers. You’ve seen the format: follow, comment, tag a friend. It works, but be careful. You might attract people who just want the prize and have zero interest in your brand. Make sure the reward reflects your product and attracts the right audience.

Here is an example of how the influencer Rocío Camacho collaborates with NYX Cosmetics through a giveaway on Instagram, promoting the brand’s products in exchange for audience engagement. This partnership boosts brand visibility while reinforcing Rocío’s relationship with her audience.

4. Affiliate marketing

Instead of paying upfront, the influencer earns a commission for every sale made through their link or discount code. Great for e-commerce, especially if you want a performance-based approach. Just make sure you’ve got good tracking in place and margins that can handle it.

This is an example of affiliate marketing where the influencer promotes products from Nobody’s Child through an Instagram Story. The influencer shares a try-on video and includes a direct affiliate link with a discount incentive (15% off).

5. Brand ambassadors

This goes beyond one-off deals. You’re building a long-term relationship where the influencer becomes a true representative of your brand. It’s about consistency, trust, and showing up together across multiple touchpoints. It only works when there’s a real connection, and when you treat them as part of your team, not just a media channel.

This is an example of brand ambassadorship, where the influencer Coco Constans collaborates long-term with Intimissimi. In this post, she highlights the brand using the hashtag #embajadora (ambassador), reinforcing her official role as a brand ambassador. 

6. Takeovers

Let an influencer “take over” your social media account for a day. They share behind-the-scenes content, give their point of view, or walk your audience through a special event. It’s a great way to humanize your brand and bring fresh energy to your feed. Just make sure expectations and tone are aligned in advance.

In this case, influencer Jaime King takes over Harper’s Bazaar US’s Instagram Stories, sharing her day behind the scenes, including getting ready moments and attending a Dior event. The takeover allows the magazine to offer exclusive, personal content while strengthening ties with both the influencer and the Dior brand.

7. Co-branding

When there’s real chemistry between a brand and a creator, co-branding offers the opportunity to take the partnership to the next level. By co-creating a product, capsule collection, or limited-edition drop, co-branding generates hype, buzz, and often leads to fast sell-outs, but it requires proper planning, brand alignment, and a compelling story.

A strong example of co-branding is Chiara Ferragni’s collaboration with Nespresso, where her signature style was applied to coffee machines and accessories, helping Nespresso connect with a younger, fashion-forward audience.

8. Events with influencers

IRL still matters. Inviting influencers to physical events (launches, trips, pop-ups) creates content, strengthens relationships, and brings your brand to life in a more emotional way. Think through the experience, make it visual, and design moments that are easy (and tempting) to share.

The image shows Spanish influencers at Coachella, invited by brands that align with their style and values. By attending iconic events, they create lifestyle content that feels natural and engaging. This boosts brand visibility while reinforcing aspirational positioning and cultural relevance.

9. Whitelisting 

This one's a bit more technical but super powerful: you use an influencer’s content and run paid ads from their account instead of your brand’s. It combines the authenticity of their voice with the targeting power of paid media. You’ll need permissions and solid setup, but the ROI can be amazing.

Here, GetQuip uses influencer content in sponsored posts and stories, combining the trust and authenticity of influencers with the targeting power of paid media to maximize reach and conversions.

10. UGC (User-Generated Content)

You don’t always need big-name creators. Sometimes, your best content comes from your community. You can encourage customers, fans, and micro-creators to share photos or videos using your product. With campaigns, challenges and reposts, UGC adds authenticity, builds trust, and fuels your content strategy with real people.

This is a clear example of user-generated content (UGC), where a creator shares a personal, authentic review of Bio-Oil. The video feels organic and relatable, highlighting personal experience with the product. Brands like Bio-Oil often repost this type of content to build trust and drive engagement.

Finding the right influencers is key to any successful campaign. Check our article, where we share 7 top tools to help you easily discover and connect with the best creators for your brand.

At LOUD, we specialize in building meaningful influencer collaborations that go beyond vanity metrics to drive real business impact. Whether you need a one-off campaign or a long-term strategy, we can help you design influencer partnerships that actually work.